Home Improvement

Home Improvement features Tim Taylor (Tim Allen), a former salesman with the Binford Tool Company who now has his own home improvement show, “Tool Time”. Enormously accident prone, Tim isn’t the best at completing a project and nearly every show features some kind of disaster. Luckily, the audience seem ready to believe that the mishaps are deliberate, there to illustrate what NOT to do. Tim does, however, have a talent for fixing cars, something mostly evidenced at home where he is working on building two hot rods.

Tim’s show features two others, Al Borland (Richard Karn) and “Tool Time” girl Lisa. Master plumber and licensed contractor Al is Tim’s assistant and close friend. Bearded and plaid-wearing, he tries hard to please his mother and is very knowledgeable about tools. Lisa’s (Pamela Anderson) contribution to the show begins and ends with introducing Tim and Al and handing them tools, and she was later written out when Anderson, not surprisingly, wanted bigger acting roles. Lisa is replaced by Heidi (Debbe Dunning), who eventually appears in other parts of the show as well as the “Tool Time” sections.

Photo Courtesy of ABC

As for Tim’s personal life, he is married with three sons and is a passionate supporter of the sports teams of his home city of Detroit. His wife Jill (Patricia Richardson) works at a magazine at the beginning of the series, but later studies to become a psychologist. She comes from a large family with a military background and loves cars, ballet, opera and volunteering at the library. An excellent wife and mother, her one flaw is her cooking, about which Tim and the boys regularly make disparaging remarks. Despite their many differences Tim and Jill have a strong marriage, and Tim is particularly close to the eldest of his three sons, Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan). Brad likes to work on the hot rods with his dad, chase girls and play soccer. Middle son Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is very intelligent, writes for the school paper and develops an increasingly strong environmental conscience as he gets older. Like his father, he enjoys playing jokes on people. Mark (Taran Noah Smith), the youngest Taylor son, is closest to his mother. More sensitive than his brothers, he participates in Cub Scouts for a while, takes karate, and later becomes something of a loner.

A number of other characters join the Taylor family and “Tool Time” regulars. Marty Taylor (William O’Leary) is Tim’s youngest brother, and is married with twin daughters. He has constant marital problems and his autism means he struggles to hold down a job. Tim’s oldest brother, Jeff Taylor (Thom Sharp), also seems unable to keep a job, though in his case his problems stem from his enthusiasm for business projects that inevitably turn out badly. Then there’s Harry Turner (Blake Clark), owner of Tim’s favorite hardware store, “Harry’s Hardware”. He has four sons and is unhappily married to Delores (Shirley Prestia). Tim’s friend Benny Baroni (Jimmy Labriola) spends most of his time hanging out at the hardware store or trying to get something for nothing. Last but not least is Wilson (Earl Hindman). Wise and well-travelled, Wilson is the Taylors’ next door neighbor and a source of sage advice, which he freely dispenses. His parents never allowed him to speak to his neighbors while he was growing up, and Wilson is now making up for lost time, particularly enjoying his conversations with Tim. Wilson’s whole face is never shown in the show, a running gag that gives rise to lots of creative camera angles as the series progresses.

Photo Courtesy of ABC

Main Cast

Character

Actor

Tim Taylor

Tim Allen

Jill Taylor

Patricia Richardson

Al Borland

Richard Karn

Brad Taylor

Zachery Ty Bryan

Randy Taylor

Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Mark Taylor

Taran Noah Smith

Wilson Wilson, Jr.

Earl Hindman

Heide Keppert

Debbe Dunning

Photo Courtesy of ABC

Additional Cast

Character

Actor

Years

Marty Taylor

William O’Leary

1994-1999

Benny Baroni

Jimmy Labriola

1993-1999

Lisa

Pamela Anderson

1991-1997

Harry

Blake Clark

1994-1999

Ilene Markham

Sherry Hursey

1993-1997

Pete Bilker

Mickey Jones

1991-1999

Dwayne Hoover

Gary McGurk

1991-1999

Rock Lannigan

Casey Sander

1991-1999

Bud Harper

Charles Robinson

1995-1999

Milton

Milton Canady

1995-1999

Marie Morton

Mariangela Pino

1993-1995

Dolores

Shirley Prestia

1995-1999

Karen Kelly

Betsy Randle

1992-1993

Jennifer Sudarsky

Jessica Wesson

1992-1993

Lauren

Courtney Peldon

1996-1998

Patty

Tammy Lauren

1997-1999

Felix Myman

Al Fann

1991-1999

Antonio

Vasili Bogaziano

1996-1999

Sparky

Patrick Cronin

1996-1999

Jeff Taylor

Thom Sharp

1996-1999

Carrie Patterson

Tudi Roche

1991-1998

Lucille Taylor

Bonnie Bartlett

1995-1998

Trudy McHale

Megan Cavanagh

1998-1999

Willow Wilson

China Kantner

1997-1998

Lillian Patterson

Polly Holliday

1993-1999

Eddie McCormack

Tom La Grua

1994-1999

Angela

Kristen Clayton

1996-1997

Cal Borland

Keith Lehman

1995-1999

Nancy Taylor

Jensen Daggett

1994-1995

Marge

Francesca P. Roberts

1994-1999

Ronny

Kaylan Romero

1997-1998

Jason

Jarrad Paul

1995-1996

Gracie Taylor

Ashley Trefger

1998-1999

Claire Taylor

Lindsey Trefger

1998-1999

Stage Manager

Shawn Shea

1991-1997

Bob Vila

as himself

1992-1994

Maureen Binford

Vicki Lewis

1992

Art Leonard

Dick O’Neill

1994-1996

Mario Andretti

as himself

1992-1999

Beth

Anndi McAfee

1994-1995

Ned

Tom Poston

1995-1997

Ashley

Leigh Ann Orsi

1993-1994

Ken Bowersox

as himself

1994-1998

Michael Andretti

as himself

1992-1996

June Palmer

Gretchen German

1995-1997

Buzz

Lowell Sanders

1994-1999

Morgan Wondell

Danny Zorn

1999

Dr. Brown

Robert Neches

1995-1999

Wes Davidson

Joel Polis

1993-1994

Joe Morton

Robert Picardo

1993

Dr. Hanover

Peter Michael Goetz

1999

Dr. Lloyd Fields

Joel Higgins

1999

Greta Post

Jennifer Nash

1991-1992

Bert Russell

Mark L. Taylor

1995

Curtis

Aaron Freeman

1992

Linda

Carlene Watkins

1996-1997

Ian

Tom Wopat

1997-1998

Cynthia

Debra Engle

1992-1999

Bonnie

Bonnie Hellman

1993-1995

Irma

Angela Paton

1994-1995

Judith Haber

Beth Dixon

1995

Dave

Tony Carreiro

1992

Col. Fred Patterson

M. Emmet Walsh

1994

George

Mike Grief

1995-1999

Tracy

Maryedith Burrell

1996-1997

Doug

George DelHoyo

1997

Mike

Earl Billings

1992-1995

John Binford

Noble Willingham

1992

Bob

John Voldstad

1994-1995

Jay

Jay Leno

1995-1999

Carol

Ja’net DuBois

1991-1995

Dr. Larry Lindover

Murray Rubinstein

1994-1995

Michelle Russell

Kimberly Cullum

1995

Audience Member #2

Margaret Fitzgerald

1994-1995

Brenda

Jolie Jackunas

1995-1997

Janeen Rae Heller

as herself

1992-1999

Kelvin Pritchett

as himself

1994-1995

John ‘Juke’ Logan

as himself

1992-1999

Barry

Eric Saiet

1997

Delivery Man #1

Rocky Giordani

1991-1995

Fireman #2

Gary Bayer

1991

Ben

Haynes Brooke

1997-1998

Bouncer

Vic Stagliano

1992-1996

Photo Courtesy of ABC

Trivia

Home Improvement was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 90’s.

The character of Wilson (Earl Hindman) was drawn from Tim Allen’s childhood memories of being too short to see his neighbor over the fence.

Patricia Richardson’s (Jill) father suffered from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, or PSP, and died in 2005. Richardson is the national spokesperson for “Cure PSP”.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas’s character of Randy eventually becomes a vegetarian, like Taylor Thomas himself.

Home Improvement was based on Tim Allen’s stand-up comedy and marked the start of his very lucrative film career.

Zachery Ty Bryan volunteers for assorted charities, primarily to help underprivileged children and those who have AIDS or cancer.

Richard Karn (Al) was a guest-star in the pilot of the series but became a regular cast member after only four shows. The part had originally been given to actor Stephen Tobolowsky, but he was busy shooting a movie and it had to be recast.

Photo Courtesy of ABC

Taran Noah Smith and his then wife, Heidi van Pelt, created a business called “Play food”, an organic and vegan restaurant and non-dairy cheese manufacturer. After their divorce and a lengthy legal battle she was removed from the business, and Smith later made a success of it.

In 1999 Jonathan Taylor Thomas was the first actor to win the lifetime achievement award at the “Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards”. He won it for his role as Randy Taylor in Home Improvement.

In November 1999, in its third season, Home Improvement shot to number one in the ratings. That same week Tim Allen’s movie The Santa Clause went to number one, as did his book Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man.

Debbe Dunning (Heidi) was homecoming queen of her high school and in 1984 won the title of Miss Burbank.

Home Improvement stayed in the Top 10 throughout its eight seasons on the air.

Earl Hindman died of lung cancer on December 29, 2003.

Zachery Ty Bryan (Brad) made small appearances in a number of different TV shows and movies after Home Improvement ended.

Photo Courtesy of ABC

Jonathan Taylor Thomas enrolled at Harvard University in the year 2000, and spent his third year at St. Andrews University in Scotland. After doing only a few acting jobs in the past decade, he graduated from Columbia University in 2010.

Tim Allen bought 26 acres of campground in the state of Michigan for $2 million dollars to ensure it was not developed.

The first pilot shot for the series had actress Frances Fisher in the role of Jill. The producers decided she was too serious for the part, and it was recast with Patricia Richardson.

When Taran Noah Smith (Mark) was just seventeen years old he married Heidi Van Pelt, who was sixteen years his senior. They filed for divorce six years later.

Richard Karn was an apartment building manager before he got his break on Home Improvement. Cautious Karn kept his day job for the entire first season, wanting to be certain that the show would be a success.

Tim Allen has been arrested twice. The first time was in 1978 for possession of 1.43 lbs. of cocaine and he pleaded guilty to charges of drug trafficking, supplying the names of other drug dealers in exchange for a lighter sentence. He got three to seven years and was paroled after serving slightly more than two. The second time was in 1997, during Home Improvement’s run, for a DUI in the state of Michigan. He had a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 per cent and was sentenced to a year of probation.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas left the series at the beginning of the last season to concentrate on his schooling. He returned for the Christmas episode of season eight but not for the series finale.

Photo Courtesy of ABC

Tim Allen is currently starring with Nancy Travis in the series Last Man Standing.

Debbe Dunning is married to Steve Timmons, an American volleyball player.

Several different colleges and universities in Michigan, where the show was set, sent Tim Allen (Tim Taylor) T-shirts and sweaters which he wore on the show.

Patricia Richardson also starred in the popular Lifetime series Strong Medicine.

Zachery Ty Bryan was the youth spokesman for “World Cup ’94 Soccer”.

Tim Taylor was ranked twentieth in TV Guide’s list of the “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time”.

Richard Karn’s mother, Louise, died in 1983 from bone marrow cancer. He said, “I thought my parents were invincible. It never occurred to me she would die”.

Taran Noah Smith was arrested in 2012 on suspicion of DUI and possession of marijuana.

Photo Courtesy of ABC

Tim Allen has been nominated for and won a number of awards, including being named a “Disney Legend”.